Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and CalellaCost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Calella
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $2,322 per month in Madrid vs $1,641 in Calella, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,389 per month in Madrid vs $2,426 in Calella, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,456 per month in Madrid vs $3,211 in Calella, rent included.
😐Madrid costs about 41% more than Calella, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Madrid and Calella sit above the global median – Madrid by 68%, Calella by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.73€16.10
$15.14€13.01
23.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.3
$57.7€49.58
21.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.90€10.23
$8.22€7.07
44.77%
Cappuccino
$3.21€2.75
$2.51€2.16
27.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37€2.90
$2.52€2.16
33.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.94
$1.85€1.59
21.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.16€3.58
$3.58€3.07
16.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33€4.58
$3.48€2.99
53.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42€1.22
$1.19€1.03
19.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62€1.39
$2.09€1.80
-22.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$3.00€2.58
-39.00%
Eggs
$4.28€3.68
$3.19€2.74
34.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.06€14.66
$15.13€13.00
12.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.63€8.28
$8.39€7.21
14.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.52€15.91
$15.82€13.60
17.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$2.59€2.22
1.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.04€1.76
12.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$1.66€1.42
56.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$2.57€2.21
2.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23€1.92
$1.87€1.61
19.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28€1.96
$1.94€1.67
17.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58€1.35
$1.55€1.34
1.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08€0.92
$0.64€0.55
68.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91€5.94
$6.94€5.97
-0.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.13€6.98
$5.95€5.11
36.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22€1.05
$1.07€0.92
14.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.93
$2.47€2.12
-8.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Calella
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.76€1.51
$1.45€1.25
21.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.04€32.69
$38.89€33.42
-2.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.82€3.28
$4.67€4.01
-18.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53€1.32
$1.37€1.18
11.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.08€26.71
$15.04€12.92
106.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.73€1.49
6.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K€31.0K
$40.9K€35.2K
-11.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K€29.4K
$32.9K€28.2K
4.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191€164
$119€102
61.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.07€16.38
$14.06€12.08
35.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.93€30.87
$26.67€22.92
34.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.5€43.37
$51.2€43.96
-1.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.37€16.64
$16.09€13.83
20.39%
Cinema Ticket
$11.50€9.89
$8.57€7.36
34.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$719€618
$574€493
25.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.4K€15.8K
$10.4K€8,897
77.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.7€77.1
$64.8€55.7
38.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.13€38.78
$21.86€18.78
106.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€94.2
$117€101
-6.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114€98.1
$162€140
-29.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Calella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,577€1,356
$917€788
72.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,202€1,033
$698€600
72.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,842€2,442
$1,400€1,203
102.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,883€1,618
$1,055€906
78.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,245€7,945
$3,531€3,034
161.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,215€3,622
$2,642€2,270
59.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Calella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,498€2,147
$1,779€1,528
40.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.09
3.3
-6.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: September 7, 2026
Last update for Calella: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,577 in Madrid versus $917 in Calella. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 40% higher in Madrid, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Madrid versus $58.0 in Calella. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $283 – making Calella the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Madrid vs Calella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calella cheaper than Madrid?
Yes – Madrid is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,483 per month in Madrid and $2,462 in Calella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calella, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 2% less in Calella. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $719 per month in Madrid and $574 in Calella. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Madrid or in Calella?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Calella, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Madrid at $2,322. In Calella it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Madrid or Calella more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Calella – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Madrid or Calella?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Calella. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Madrid makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.